Pronoun Reference and Antecedent Agreement

1. Pronoun Reference and Antecedent Agreement It’s not as bad as it sounds! Created by Shreese Williams Information from Real Good Grammar, Too by Mamie Hixon REVISED by Mamie Webb Hixon, September 30, 2010

2. Pre-test • What do you already know about Pronoun Reference and Antecedent Agreement? • http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/ebecker/grammarquiz/

3. Pronoun • The part of speech that substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and designates persons or things asked for • It can take the place of a subject word • (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) • It can take the place of an object word • (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) • It can take the place of a possessive word • (my, mine, your, yours, his, hers, its, our, ours, their, theirs)

4. Pronoun • Pro noun – for a noun • NOUN For the Noun (Pronoun) • Kathy she . . . her • Morgan he . . . him • Toni and Nancy they . . . them • Either Rebekah or Jennifer she . . . her • Verizon Wireless it . . . its • The staff it . . . its • Each student his or her . . . he or she • Everyone his or her . . . he or she • Paper it . . . its . . . whose • Papers it . . . its . . . whose

5. Antecedent • The noun that a pronoun stands for • Savanna purchased an airline ticket, and now she can’t find it. • “Savanna” is the antecedent for “she.” • “airline ticket” is the antecedent for “it.”

6. The Rules • Every pronoun must have a conspicuous antecedent. • Every pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender, and person.

7. The Rules • PRONOUN REFERENCE • Check every pronoun in your sentence to make sure that it has a word to which it refers.  If not, reword the sentence. • After braiding Janee’s hair, Andrea decorated them[no word to which this pronoun refers] with beads. INCORRECT • PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT • Locate the word to which every pronoun in the sentence refers (antecedent).  Make sure that both the pronoun and the antecedent agree:  both are singular, or both are plural. • Don’t be afraid to ask dumb questions; they are easier to handle than dumb mistakes. [Both the pronoun “they” and its antecedent “questions” are plural.] CORRECT

8. Number Number refers to whether a pronoun or noun is singular or plural. • Savanna purchased an airline ticket, and now she can’t find it. • Savanna is singular; the pronoun she is also singular. • Airline ticketis singular; the pronounitis also singular. • Airline passengers must show their photo-identification cards to the ticket agent. • Airline passengers is plural; the pronoun their is also plural.

9. PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT • SINGULAR PRONOUNS • MASCULINE FEMININE NEUTER he, his, him she, shis, shimit, its she, her, hers PLURAL PRONOUNS they, their, theirs, them

10. Gender Gender refers to whether a pronoun or noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter. • Each passenger is responsible for getting his or herpassport. • Each passenger is a singular genderless antecedent, so the singular pronoun his or her is preferred usage. • The university has changed its recommendations for the new parking lot facility. • University is a singular neuter antecedent, so the singular neuter pronoun its is used.

11. Gender continued Gender refers to whether a pronoun or noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter. • Will the judges please reveal their scores? -- Judges is a plural antecedent (both masculine and feminine), so the plural pronoun their is used. • Jeni wants to increase herjob opportunities by completing her college education. • Jeni is a singular feminine antecedent, so the singular feminine pronoun her is used. • Our staff members completed their software training today. • Our staff members is a plural neuter antecedent, so the plural pronoun their is used.

12. Gender continued Gender refers to whether a pronoun or noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter. • Justin presented proper identification before hewas permitted to board the plane. • Justin is a singular masculine antecedent, so the singular masculine pronoun he is used. • Either the Holts or the Bustamantes will give us their advice on our new business. • Either the Holts or the Bustamantes is a plural antecedent, so the plural pronoun their is used.

13. Person • Person refers to the point of view from which a sentence is written: first person (the person writing), second person (the person written to), and third person (the person written about) • Incorrect: When a person turns thirty, your perspective on life changes in many ways. (The first half of the sentence is written in third person, while the second half is in second person.) • Correct: When a person turns thirty, his or her perspective on life changes in many ways. (The entire sentence is written in third person.)

14. The Problems • When a pronoun refers to either of two antecedents Incorrect: Liz doesn’t enjoy playing chess with Angie because she is a much better player. Correct: Liz doesn’t enjoy playing chess with Angie, who is a much better player. OR Liz, who is a much better player than Angie, doesn’t enjoy playing chess with her. • Incorrect: Doris told Shirley that she was getting fat. (Which one is getting fat?) • Correct: Shirley said to Doris, “I am getting fat.”

15. The Problems • When a pronoun refers to either of two antecedents Incorrect: Elise’s mother was beaming with pride when she graduated from college with honors. Correct: When Elise graduated from college with honors, her mother was beaming with pride. OR Elise’s mother, who graduated from college with honors, was beaming with pride.

16. The Problems • When a pronoun refers to an unspecified antecedent • Incorrect: A strange car followed us closely, and he kept blinking his lights at us. (Who kept blinking the lights?) • Correct: A strange car followed us closely, and its driver kept blinking his lights at us.

17. The Problems • When this, that, and which refer to the general idea of a preceding clause or sentence rather than the preceding word • Incorrect: The graduate assistants and adjuncts complained about their working conditions and low income, which fell on deaf ears. (What fell on deaf ears?) • Correct: The graduate assistants and adjuncts complained about their working conditions and low income, information which fell on deaf ears.

18. The Problems • When this, that, and which refer to the general idea of a preceding clause or sentence rather than the preceding word • Incorrect: The students could not understand the pronoun reference handout, which annoyed them very much. (What annoyed the students?) • Correct: The students could not understand the pronoun reference handout, a fact which annoyed them very much.

19. The Problems • When this, that, and which refer to the general idea of a preceding clause or sentence rather than the preceding word • Incorrect: It was once believed that a college degree was a ticket to success; however, this is certainly not the case now. (This what?) • Correct: It was once believed that a college degree was a ticket to success; however, this perception is certainly not the case now.

20. The Problems • When a pronoun refers to an unexpressed but implied noun • Incorrect: My husband wants me to become a dancer at Sammy's Go-Go, but I'm not interested in it. (What am I not interested in?) • Correct: My husband wants me to become a dancer at Sammy's Go-Go, but I'm not interested in being that kind of dancer.

21. The Problems • When it is used as something other than an expletive to postpone a subject • Incorrect: It says in today's paper that the newest shipment of cars from Detroit, Michigan, seems to include outright imitations of European models. • Correct: Today's newspaper says that the newest shipment of cars from Detroit, Michigan, seems to include outright imitations of European models.

22. The Problems • When they or it is used to refer to something or someone indefinitely, and there is no definite antecedent • Incorrect: At the job placement office, they told me to stop wearing ripped jeans to my interviews. (Who is they?) • Correct: At the job placement office, my counselor told me to stop wearing ripped jeans to my interviews. • Correct: At the job placement office, I was told to stop wearing ripped jeans to my interviews.

23. The Problems • When the pronoun does not agree with its antecedent in number, gender, or person • Incorrect: Any graduate student, if they are interested, may attend the lecture. (student--singular; they--plural) • Correct: Any graduate student, if he or she is interested, may attend the lecture.

24. The Problems • When a noun or pronoun has no expressed antecedent • Incorrect: In the President's address to the union, he promised no more taxes. (Who is he?) • Correct: In his address to the union, the President promised no more taxes.

25. The Problems • When nonstandard pronouns replace standard English pronouns • Incorrect: Before the students go to Japan, they will need to renew their passports theirselves. • Correct: Before the students go to Japan, they will need to renew their passports themselves. • Nonstandard Pronouns • hisself, theyself, themself, theirself, theirselves • Correct Pronouns • himself, themselves

26. The Problems • When the antecedent is an indefinite singular, genderless pronoun • Incorrect and Outdated: Everyone gave his version of the incident. (Many object to this usage as sexist.) • Correct: Everyone gave his or her version of the incident. • Correct: All of them gave their version of the incident.

27. The Problems • When the antecedent is an indefinite singular, genderless pronoun • Incorrect and Outdated: Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but not to his own facts. • Also Incorrect: Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts. • Correct: Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions, but not to his or her own facts.

28. The Problems • When the antecedent is a genderless noun • Incorrect and Outdated/Sexist: A lawyer represents his clients. • Correct: A lawyer represents his or her clients. • Incorrect: Every employee has the combination to their private locker. • Correct: Every employee has the combination to his or her private locker.

29. The Problems • When the antecedent is a collective noun • Incorrect: The choir decided that they would sing gospel music. • Correct: The choir decided that it would sing gospel music. • Incorrect: The soccer team will play their first game after Labor Day. • Correct: The soccer team will play its first game after Labor Day.

30. The Problems • When the contraction it’s or the non-word its’ is used for its • Incorrect: The organization should ask its’ volunteers to sign consent forms. • Correct: The organization should ask its volunteers to sign consent forms. • Incorrect: The jury has made it’s decision. • Correct: The jury has made its decision.

31. The Problems • When a possessive pronoun is incorrectly spelled with an apostrophe • Incorrect: The article is her’s, the book is his, but the idea is our’s. • Correct: The article is hers, the book is his, but the idea is ours. • Incorrect Possessive Pronouns • our’s, her’s, their’s, your’s, mines • Correct Possessive Pronouns: mine, his, hers, theirs, ours, yours

32. The Problems • When the pronoun is plural and the antecedent is singular • Incorrect : Congress must explain their reason for rejecting the President’s proposal. • Correct: Congress must explain its reason for rejecting the President’s proposal.

33. The Problems • When the antecedent is plural and the pronoun is singular • Incorrect : Nancy and Andrea agree on many of her principles. • Correct: Nancy and Andrea agree on many of their principles. • Incorrect: Gumbo and jambalaya are the most common dishes in New Orleans, and it is served in huge portions. • Correct: Gumbo and jambalaya are the most common dishes in New Orleans, and they are served in huge portions.

34. The Problems • When the antecedent is singular and the pronoun is plural • Incorrect: Black beans and rice is a popular side dish in Cuban restaurants, and they are usually served with fish. • Correct: Black beans and rice is a popular side dish in Cuban restaurants, and it is usually served with fish.

35. Some Practice • Many Americans are concerned that the overuse of slang and colloquialisms is corrupting its language. • The pronoun its does not agree with its antecedent in number or gender. • Many Americans are concerned that the overuse of slang and colloquialisms is corrupting their language.

36. Some Practice • A person should be allowed to make up their mind. • The pronoun their does not agree with its antecedent. • A person should be allowed to make up his or her mind.

37. Even More Practice • Sylvia was not sure if Candace brought her book. • Her has an ambiguous reference. Does her refer to Sylvia or Candace? • Sylvia was not sure if Candace brought Sylvia’s book. • Sylvia wondered, “Did Candace bring my book?”

38. More Practice • Justin continued to attend Professor McNasty’s class even though he disliked him. • He and him have ambiguous references. • Even though he disliked Professor McNasty, Justin continued to attend his class.

39. Still Practicing (Sentences from Hodges’ Harbrace Handbook) • When class attendance is compulsory, some students feel that education is being forced on them. This is unwarranted. • This has no clear antecedent. • When class attendance is compulsory, some students feel that education is being forced on them. This perception is unwarranted.

40. Still Practicing (Sentences from Hodges’ Harbrace Handbook) • My father is a high school band director. It is a profession that requires much patience. • It has no expressed antecedent. • My father is a high school band director. Directing a band is a profession that requires much patience.

41. Still Practicing • The cost of living went up another two percent, which caused a serious problem for retired people with a small fixed income. • Which is incorrectly substituting for the entire idea. • The cost of living went up another two percent, a situation which caused a serious problem for retired people with a small fixed income. • The cost of living went up another two percent, causing a serious problem for retired people with a small fixed income.

42. Practice(Sentence from HBJ Workbook) • Psychologists have reported, with warnings implied, that you cannot always cure depression with Valium. • You who? • Psychologists have reported, with warnings implied, that one cannot always cure depression with Valium. OR • Psychologists have reported, with warnings implied, that a person cannot always cure depression with Valium.

43. More Practice • In Arianna Huffington’s article, she argues that the political system is deteriorating. • The pronoun she does not have a clear antecedent. • In her article, Arianna Huffington argues that the political system is deteriorating.

44. What do you think? • Does this sentence from an online greeting card company contain a pronoun-antecedent agreement error? • Send a greeting card to Jan Err on their birthday?